Padlocks

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT PADLOCKS - PAGE 3

HOLLYWOOD -- Tools were stolen from a trailer at a construction site in the 3500 block of Hollywood Boulevard on Oct. 17. Two padlocks on the trailer`s door were cut to gain entry. The stolen items included a $150 power saw, $250 worth of acetylene torches, a $100 drill motor, a $900 generator and a $400 water pump.

DAVIE -- A construction site on the 9200 block of Southwest 36th Street was robbed of about $230 worth of equipment between 4:30 p.m. on July 22 and 6:30 a.m. on July 25. The items included a sledgehammer, padlocks, hacksaw blades, spray paint, duct tape, hand cleaner and magic markers.

POMPANO BEACH -- Tools, valued at $4,965, were taken from A&A Salvage, 1925 NW 15th St., around Oct. 5, a police report said. The tools were taken after padlocks on the doors of a shed and trailer were broken, the report said.

1100 block of Northwest 62nd Avenue. A utility shack on a carport was pried open before 1:45 p.m. July 19. Several cabinets secured with padlocks inside the shack were broken open. A $50 Black and Decker skill saw, a $35 Black and Decker jigsaw, a $150 Black and Decker belt sander, a $25 Black and Decker finishing sander, a $20 aluminum ladder and a $175 Poulan chainsaw were stolen.

A water plant under construction for Boynton Beach was stripped of $9,000 of equipment and tools over the weekend, a Palm Beach County sheriff`s report said. A deputy discovered the theft at 5469 Boynton Beach Blvd. about 1:25 p.m. on Sunday. Survey equipment, power tools, a generator and some miscellaneous tools were taken after padlocks to six trailers were cut, a sheriff`s report said. Thieves cut the main gate lock to get into the compound, the report said.

Burglars broke into a construction trailer located at 8750 Mori Blvd., west of Boca Raton Monday, according to a Palm Beach County Sheriff`s Office report. They pried off two padlocks and moved a truck that had been backed up against a door to help secure it, the report said. The window on the truck had been broken out. Once inside they removed construction tools and equipment. The total loss was estimated at $10,000, according to the report.

A recent issue of Travel Holiday included advice from an ex-baggage handler on how to protect checked baggage. Among the tips: Don't use the padlocks that come with your luggage. With few exceptions, each make in a line of luggage uses the same key, so if a thief can open one bag, he can open them all. Use a combination lock and avoid such combination quick picks as 000, 123, or 456. The base holes in the zipper pull-tabs for padlocks should be used, not the top holes, which leave room for a finger to scoot the zipper around and get inside.

-- 16000 block of Southwest Fifth Way. The victim told police that when she returned home she found used fireworks scattered inside her home and $300 worth of damage to the floor and carpet. The suspects entered the home between 7 p.m. July 4 and 3 p.m. July 5. Entry was made by prying open a sliding glass door. VEHICLE BURGLARY -- Southwest 117th Way and State Road 84. A lawn mower worth $2,800, two weed trimmers worth $800, a lawn mower worth $800, a blower worth $450, a blower worth $450, an edger worth $400, a chain saw worth $425, a portable sprayer worth $80 and a tool box with assorted tools worth $350 were taken around 8 a.m. on July 2 from a trailer parked at a storage compound.

For a complete list of product recalls, visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site at www.cpsc.gov. PRODUCT: Child Craft Industries, of Salem, Ind., is recalling about 4,300 changing tables. Stores nationwide sold the changing tables from August 1998 through April for about $150. PROBLEM: Some joints were not properly glued and can separate, presenting a fall hazard to babies. WHAT TO DO: Stop using the recalled changing tables, and call Child Craft at 866-423-3114 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. weekdays for information on participating in this recall, or visit the company's Web site at www.childcraftind.

Many South Floridians live in mobile home parks. Securing these residences presents a challenge not only for the homeowners, but also for law enforcement officers. Here are a few helpful tips: -- Special care should be used when securing all doors and windows. -- Door hinges should be properly pinned because doors on mobile homes generally are not of solid-core construction. -- Before installing an auxiliary deadbolt lock on your mobile home door, check first to see whether the door needs reinforcing.